A US Senator is keeping mum after a pharmaceutical company run by his daughter faced mounting criticism for hiking prices on life-saving allergy injection pens.
Democratic West Virginia senator Joe Manchin's daughter, Heather Bresch, is CEO of Mylan, the manufacturer of EpiPens.
A two-dose package, costing around $US94 ($A123) nine years ago, rose more than 600 per cent to an average cost of $US608 ($A797) in May, according to the Elsevier Clinical Solutions' Gold Standard Drug Database.
Manchin spokesman Jonathan Kott said on Wednesday the senator had no comment right now.
His silence contrasted with a growing number of leaders crying foul on the ballooning prices, including fellow senators and the presidential candidate Manchin has endorsed, Hillary Clinton.
None of them, Democrats or Republicans, went out of their way to mention Manchin's family connection.
Bresch made $US18.9 million ($A24.8 million) total compensation in 2015, 7.7 times greater than her $US2.45 million ($A3.21 million) pay when she was Mylan's president in 2007.
Her predecessor as CEO made almost $US15 million ($A20 million) in 2007, according to SEC filings.
Earlier this month, Mylan reported quarterly revenues of $US2.56 billion ($A3.36 billion), up 8 per cent compared to the prior year. It reported second quarter net income of $US168.4 million ($A220.7 million).
A Mylan statement on Monday cited health insurance changes resulting in higher deductible costs for many families. It pointed out its savings programs for patients and free EpiPens for schools, with around half of US schools participating.
``This current and ongoing shift has presented new challenges for consumers, and now they are bearing more of the cost'' of the devices, the statement said.
Meanwhile, several senators on Wednesday asked the Food and Drug Administration about its approval process for generic equivalents that might help increase competition and lower prices.
Clinton echoed calls for Mylan to reduce the ``outrageous'' price hike. She said pharmaceutical companies should have to explain price increases and show what benefits and value have been added.
Pharmaceutical and biotech industries can fuel American innovation, and combat debilitating diseases, Clinton said in the statement on Wednesday.
But she added that ``it's wrong when drug companies put profits ahead of patients, raising prices without justifying the value behind them.''
Dr. Andrew Gurman, American Medical Association president, said the EpiPen price increase could ``keep them out of reach of people in need or force some families to choose between EpiPens and other essentials.''
